2010 grad.

My Brady graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelors in Econometrics!!! WohooO! I couldn't be more proud. I feel so privileged to have watched him from beginning to end as he struggled and worked so hard to achieve his goal. He is an amazing example to me and his son! He has had so much loving support from family and friends throughout the whole journey. That has made all the difference. Our family is truly amazing. Now that this chapter has ended... on to law school.
(For those of you asking yourself, "What about Leah's education?" : I am currently still working on prerequisites for the nursing program. I have about 2 semesters left of those and then I can apply for the 2 year nursing program. Yes I have a long road ahead of me, especially once this wittle baby comes into the mix, but no need to fear- I will finish!)

inspired.

This video has recently had a large influence on me. As I sit and impatiently wait for this baby to arrive, I find it easy to feel sorry for myself. I take pity in myself that I am extremely large and none of my clothing fits me resulting in me wearing my husbands (and most of those no longer fit me anymore either), I take pity in myself that I do not want to go out in public, and I take pity in myself that I can no longer keep up with the housework that piles up around me. Maybe it's the baby hormones but it feels like a little taste of "baby blues". I fight really hard to push it away but sometimes it's easiest just to embrace it.
After watching this video I find the strength and motivation to get out of my "funk". Her story is truly inspirational and I am so grateful she is willing to share it with people like me who need a slap in the face sometimes. When you think life is hard, remember there is always someone somewhere who has it worse and be grateful. Enjoy.

i heart you.

mom, thank you for being the best mom ever and showing me how to be the best mom ever. happy mother's day. i heart you.

36 weeks

36 weeks and only 4 to go! oh my goodness. d-day is coming really quick! we are ecstatic to meet the little man. you know what they say about the last month being miserable is soooo true! i feel so lazy, all i want to do is sit around. thank goodness my mom came this past week to help me put together his nursery. didn't it turn out so cute?!!!! my mother is amazing! seeing the nursery done is relieving and makes everything more real. this whole baby thing isn't just in my head, it's really going to happen. we will have a little man to snuggle, love and kiss whenever i want! so excited.

so all of the nursery art was crafted by my mother and i with our handsome handyman- braden. super easy, cost effective and fun to do.

the circles on the wall are quilting hoops with some great fabric stretched across and hung up (idea accredited to my brother's awesome girlfriend, Lindsay). this was by far the easiest project and extremely dirt cheap: quilting hoops about $1.50 a piece and fabric $3.00/yard, but not even a yard was needed with each fabric.

the name banner above crib- idea was taken from here. each square is two pieces of felt, hand stitched together at the top and another stitch a couple of inches below to allow room to thread a ribbon through for hanging. the letters-we went to joanns and picked out a bunch of the fabric quarters for $1 a piece and got some iron on fabric applique (double-sided) for $3/yard. we made our own letter templates on white printer paper. we applied the applique to the fabric, used our templates to cut out the letters, peeled off the applique and ironed on to the felt squares. easy peasy lemon squeezy.

the night stand we found at the DI for $20! it was white and yucky. we painted it with a grey semi-gloss ($10) and replaced the drawer handle ($5). lamp is from home goods for $30. piggy bank $0.50 from DI. little fabric thing under lamp made from scraps from quilted hoops.

the shelves unfinished $10 a piece from michaels painted the same color as the night stand. baby knick-knacks on shelves all found at the DI for a total $8.

changing table/dresser was found on KSL.com- a couple bought it, put it together and decided they wanted white furniture, not cherry. brand new, never used for $175. replaced wooden knobs with brushed nickle knobs for $20.

memories to come from sitting in that glider, changing our son on that changing table, and putting our son to bed in that crib- priceless. haha

we are ready for you little boy! now it's just a waiting game.

a gem

i found a gem, this amazingly crafty blog here. i think i spent a couple hours looking at each picture and gasping in awe of the beauty. i suddenly feel the urge to be crafty, which is so unlike me. i want to learn how to do everything! sew, crochet, knit, embroider, quilt...everything! i always wanted the crafty genes that my mom has but never thought they were passed down because i never felt the desire. but i have seen the light mom, and after browsing through this blog i am inspired. now that i have found the inspiration, i just need to find the time. mom is coming next week and i think she might have to help give me a jump start. (hope you are up for that mom!) wish me luck as i tap into my crafty side.

it's always sunny in cali

for spring break brady and i flew to orange county for the week. we had a great time soaking up as many sun rays as possible. my dad really knows how to show us a good time. we went to the beach (palizada, my favorite), disneyland, ate some awesome grub and enjoyed an outrageous performance by the beatle's coverband, rain, at the orange county performing arts center. i can tell you from the activity going on inside of me that baby harker's favorite part by far was the beatle's coverband. it felt as if he was trying to rip through my abdominal wall to find out what all the raucous was about. braden had to go home to salt lake a little early because he had to work but i stayed to spend time with the fam and have an amazing baby shower thrown by my mom and sister. i feel so blessed and loved to have so many beautiful people share in our excitement of little baby harker. i can't thank all those who came enough for their love and support. it means the world.

pregnancy update. currently 32 weeks, only 7 weeks to go. baby harker is about the size of a honeydew and weighing around 4.5 lbs. there is not room for him to flip and twirl anymore but don't worry he still tries. according to "what to expect when you're expecting" there is now more baby than amniotic fluid inside of me and it's not hard to believe because he is in every nook and cranny he can squeeze into. also, he could grow up to an inch larger just this week! wow, that's scary.

we went to the doctor a couple of weeks ago and we were able to take a quick peek on the ultrasound to make sure everything looked good. the doctor was surprised to see that we could actually see the hair on his head. that was crazy to see the little spikes on the ultrasound. it shouldn't be too surprising to us because both braden and i have crazy thick hair on our heads. the doctor also said that he is now head down. ready to come into the world at a moment's notice.

i feel really good physically. simple tasks are becoming too difficult, such as touching my toes or even seeing them for that matter. after this past growth spurt the swelling has begun. yes, i now have cankles. i drink a ton of water and it seems to help. i have gained a lot of weight. yikes! i wont lie, i eat whatever i want, when i want. i think a girl deserves that at least once in her life. i have 7 more weeks to enjoy it and then it's back to gross healthy food and jogs with the baby.

soon enough we will get to meet the boy that will change our life in such a beautiful way.

2 years

this post is a little late but better late than never. we celebrated two years of marriage on march 15! woohoo! i had to work my graveyard shift the night before so i slept in until about noon. when i woke up, i opened our bedroom door to find this path of rose petals down to the living room. there i found the sweetest man ever with my favorite donuts, maple bars! he got a dozen donuts with happy anniversary written on every single one. haha it was very sweet, probably the sweetest thing he has ever done for me. we had a great day together celebrating our anniversary. the last time it will be just the two of us :) i am one lucky girl.